Calix[4]arene‐Based Sensitizers for Host‐Guest Supramolecular Dyads for Solar Energy Conversion in Photoelectrochemical Cells.

Abstract

The photogeneration of electricity and solar fuels by solar irradiation in photoelectrochemical cells is one of the sectors with the highest growth potential in the decarbonised society. However, the use of different components, in particular photosensitizers and catalysts, can present problems of charge transfer efficiency at the interface, leading to lower final efficiencies. In this work we present novel integrated photosensitizer‐catalyst dyads based on robust and, at the same time, flexible host‐guest non‐covalent interactions through the use of calix[4]arene cavities. Current photogeneration in photoelectrochemical cells showed twice greater efficiency in the integrated calixarene‐based host‐guest dyads compared to the traditional architecture based on the separate photosensitizer‐catalyst pair. Molecular dynamics studies have shown that the enhanced performance originates from an optimization of the distances between the centres of the photosensitizer, catalyst and semiconductor involved in the charge transfer processes, thus allowing a higher final efficiency of the charge photogeneration process.

Enhanced Long‐Term Stability of a Photosensitizer with a Hydroxamic Acid Anchor in Dye‐Sensitized Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

“…Indeed, many DSSC sensitizers can also be successfully used in DSPC [9a,d] . In the last years, many researchers have investigated several types of sensitizers that improve photocatalytic performances through molecular engineering, which optimizes light harvesting, stability, and surface interaction [9b,11] . The anchoring/acceptor group is strongly involved in both the injection of electrons and the stability of the dye on the semiconductor surface, thus playing a central and strategic role in the whole process [12]…”